Family

Fifteen

Michi Mishima looked around in amusement at the bustling school festival. Her daughter Akane and step-daughter Nao were both attending, and she wanted to visit them both.

'And I'm curious how well Nao is settling in,' Michi admitted to herself. She felt vaguely guilty over their making Nao move here with them. Yes, it was probably better for Nao, but it was clear the girl hadn't been happy about the move.

Michi blinked as she passed a locker where someone had put up a poster of Nao. In a waitress outfit. 'What?' she blinked.

Deciding she didn't want to know, Michi headed for Akane's class first. According to the map she'd picked up, her daughter was part of a fortune telling skit, while Nao was part of a maid cafe. She walked the halls, and got a few confused glances from students. Probably registering that she looked like Akane.

"Welcome! Here for a fortune?" a cute girl with long purple hair smiled.

"Yes. Is Akane free?" Michi asked.

"Oh, you're her mom," the girl blinked. "I'll see..."

After a quick talk, Akane trotted out, looking decidedly embarrassed. She was dressed in a 'sexy witch' costume with black, tight top, short skirt, cape and a witch's hat. It looked more cute on her than sexy, though.

"Has your friend Natsuru seen you in that?" Michi teased as she sat down.

"Moooom," Akane groaned.

Michi snickered softly. "How's the fortune telling going?" she asked.

"Not bad. Most customers are good sports about the vague predictions," Akane noted.

Michi got a vague fortune about 'good things coming' and luck in love, then headed out. Akane promised to find her once her shift was over. Michi was feeling a bit thirsty, and decided to see how busy Nao's cafe was.

There was a huge line, surprisingly. But the teens saw an adult woman and politely waved her ahead. 'Why the huge line?' Michi had to wonder, then saw the girl at the classroom door..

She was SORT OF dressed like a maid. A maid for an adult nightclub maybe. The black top was low cut and very tight, while the skirt was skimpy and short. She also had fishnet stockings.

'Somehow, I don't think a teacher approved that,' Michi thought wryly.

"Welcome!" the young lady smiled, looking embarrassed at having an adult see her like that.

"Is Nao on shift?" Michi asked. She smiled wryly, "I'm her step-mother."

She girl froze, then had a hilarious 'oh shit' look appear on her face. "I'll be right back," she said then rushed off.

"It's NAO'S MOM," was frantically whispered just out of sight.

"Cover her up?" was suggested desperately.

"Are you kidding?!"

"We're SO doomed..."

A few seconds later Nao strode out, indeed wearing the sexy maid outfit. Including very short skirt. Michi raised her eyebrows, but wasn't THAT surprised.

"Follow me, please," Nao led her to a table.

"I feel very certain no adults approved that outfit," Michi noted.

"I'm pretty sure the teacher was shone a picture," Nao shrugged, "then it went through some... modifications."

"I'm sure. You okay?" Michi asked as she sat, "I can get you out of here if you want."

Nao gave her a surprised smile. "It's fine, really." She took her mother's order for iced coffee, then calmly stalked off. A few moments later, and she was back with the drink.

Michi pointed at the sign by the door and quoted, "No unwanted touching. Violators will be punished by NAO."

Nao shrugged, "I'm also the bouncer."

Michi shook her head, chuckling.

As Michi drank her drink, she also observed the crowds. As expected, there were lots of young men visiting from the local schools, as well as the boys division of this one. But there were a surprising number of young ladies who were coming to enjoy the view, so to speak. And a LOT of them seemed to be fans of Nao.

"Eeep!" a maid yelped.

Nao casually grabbed the woman who had groped her. "Out you go," she casually chucked the lady out into the hallway.

"Step on me, Nao-sama!" another girl cried.

Nao just ignored that.

'This is a very weird school,' Michi thought as she finished her drink.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Someone had burned the entrail animal toys that Kaede had planned to pass out after the cosplay fashion show.

Kaede scowled as she surveyed the burned pile of stuff behind the school. A student had spotted it, then the fire was put out, and someone called the student council and Kaede was informed.

"Do you think it was Shizuku?" Sayaka Nakao, the sword using White Kampfer, asked her boss quietly.

"Probably not directly," Kaede mused. "It was likely one of the other red or blue Kampfers, obviously."

"We could try to get a few more...," Sayaka tentatively suggested.

Kaede looked thoughtful, then shook her head. "To be honest I wasn't sure this was a good idea anyway," she admitted.

"Oh?" Sayaka wondered as they walked back to the main building.

"The Moderators may want more fighters, but I'm not sure that will help me," Kaede admitted, "plus if the cast gets larger, the author will spend even less time on us."

"Huh?" Sayaka blinked at the fourth wall breaking.

"Never mind. The cosplay fashion show starts soon... I don't want to miss that!" Kaede hurried off, smiling.

"Oh joy..." Sayaka sighed, knowing she had to get changed for her part.

Meanwhile, Nao, Natsuru and the others were getting ready for the show. "How did Mom react to the cafe outfits?" Akane had to ask.

"Less upset than I expected," Nao admitted.

"And what does she link of your fanclub?" Natsuru teased, referring to all the girls who apparently liked Nao.

"Oh shut up...," Nao sighed. She looked around the busy backstage area, "So run this by me again... how will this show work?"

Akane sighed, "We went over this, Nao. We do three sets of costumes, dresses first, then swimsuits, then the cosplay part."

"And Shizuku is hosting the event, along with Kaede," Nao sighed. "Is she still planning to hand out those plushies?"

"Someone mysteriously burned them," Mikoto noted with a faint smile.

"Sorry, late, coming through," Sayaka hurried in. A costumer literally grabbed her as everyone got into their dresses for the first bit.

"I can't BREATHE in this," Natsuru complained as she was laced into her slinky dress.

"Suffer," the costumer said dryly as she worked.

Out in the crowded gymnasium, Michi was one of the few adults there, along with some sheepish looking teachers who were supervising. Several students were already camped out to get good seats, but she was able to find an open spot in the third row.

"Mrs Mishima?" Shizuku blinked, recognizing her as she checked the crowds.

"Shizuku, hello," Michi smiled.

"Enjoying the festival, ma'am?" Shizuku asked.

"Yes, I stopped in on Akane and Nao." Michi noted the girl's worried expression and added, "Those were some interesting waitress outfits."

A bit sheepishly Shizuku admitted, "Yes, I saw them too." Quickly she added, "I promise next year we'll keep a closer eye on what the classes do."

"Uh huh," Michi looked amused.

"I need to help host the show, excuse me," Shizuku fled.

Michi sat back, thoughtfully watching her go. Had Shizuku blushed a bit as she discussed Nao? The student president had seemed friendly when she visited previously, but more so when she had come to see Nao. Interesting...

"All right everyone, settle down," Kaede called to the restless crown. "The fashion show starts in five minutes!"

"I'm looking forwad to seeing Natsuru. She's so pretty!" one girl remarked.

"Nao-sama! I hope they put her in a dominatrix outfit."

"Yuki, you are just WEIRD."

Michi decided to ignore that too...

To be continued...

Notes: I meant to get to the fashion show itself, but didn't quite make it. Next chapter. I also decided not to add more Kampfers, as there are distressingly few named characters to use.